Jing-Mei misunderstands her mother’s actions which lead her to the conclusion that she will “never be the kind of daughter wants her to be” and leads her to the question of “why don’t you like me the way I am? I am not a genius! ” (,5). Her mother’s high expectations and criticism are her way of expressing love and faith in her daughter. Therefore, Jing-Mei constantly puts herself down “ looked in the mirror… began to cry, such a sad ugly girl! due to misunderstanding her mother’s intentions (). Suyuan’s values of family obedience, concealment of unnecessary emotions, and criticism as expressions of love contrast with Jing-Mei’s American ideas of independence, self-esteem and open expressions of love guide Jing-Mei’s belief of never fulfilling her mother’s expectations. From the time she was a child, Jing-Mei has always lived in someone else’s shadow. Jing-Mei searches for her own identity, lacks confidence, and wonders how she will fill her mother’s shoes. Suyuan Woo’s constant criticism hands Jing-Mei the idea of lack of affection, which results in Jing-Mei’s insecurity. Jing-Mei, daughter of Suyuan Woo, takes her mother’s place in the Joy Luck Club when her mother dies. ” however, in doing so, she is rejecting her heritage and identity (). Jing-Mei feels she must reject her mother in order to find herself “right then and there, was determined to put a stop to her foolish pride. June wins, leaving her mother, Suyuan, stunned. June has used her mothers regret as a weapon in a battle of wills focusing on what her mother wants her to be and what she wants. In the case of Jing-mei and Suyuan, the problem is deep-seated and by far. A young Chinese American woman, Jing-Mei June Woo, recalls, after her mothers death, her mothers sadness at having left her twin baby girls in China in 1949. Jing-Mei believes her mother is trying to change her, Jing-Mei states “I won’t let her change me… I won’t be what I’m not…” despite her mother’s real intentions of her becoming successful (). Analysis of Jing-meis and Suyuans attitude toward their character divergence. She fights with her every way she can, determined to extinguish her mother’s dreams of her becoming successful, Jing-Mei neglects her studies as well as the piano. Jing-Mei has no desire to cooperate with her mother. ” When in reality, all her mother is doing is guiding her so she won’t have to go through the hardships she herself had gone through (). Jing-Mei’s stubbornness encourages her to believe her mother is being unfair and cruel, “when mother had told this, felt as though been sent to hell. Throughout Jing-Mei’s journey she begins to develop negative thoughts of herself and displays the attributes of insecurity, stubbornness and cruelty. Therefore Jing-Mei is unable to grow as her own person and carry out the choices she wants to. Jing-Mei’s mother continually enforces Jing-Met to carry out tasks the way she wants her to, her way. Amy Tan’s short story “Two Kinds” illustrates a young girls struggle with her highly opinionated mother and finding her own way.
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